Mass-radius relation of low and very low-mass stars revisited with the VLTI

Demory, B.-O.; Ségransan, D.; Forveille, T.; Queloz, D.; Beuzit, J.-L.; Delfosse, X.; Di Folco, E.; Kervella, P.; Le Bouquin, J.-B.; Perrier, C.; Benisty, M.; Duvert, G.; Hofmann, K.-H.; Lopez, B.; Petrov, R. (2009). Mass-radius relation of low and very low-mass stars revisited with the VLTI. Astronomy and astrophysics, 505(1), pp. 205-215. EDP Sciences 10.1051/0004-6361/200911976

Text aa11976-09.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (993kB)

We measured the radii of 7 low and very low-mass stars using long baseline interferometry with the VLTI interferometer and its VINCI and AMBER near-infrared recombiners. We use these new data, together with literature measurements, to examine the luminosity-radius and mass-radius relations for K and M dwarfs. The precision of the new interferometric radii now competes with what can be obtained for double-lined eclipsing binaries. Interferometry provides access to much less active stars, as well as to stars with much better measured distances and luminosities, and therefore complements the information obtained from eclipsing systems. The radii of magnetically quiet late-K to M dwarfs match the predictions of stellar evolution models very well, providing direct confirmation that magnetic activity explains the discrepancy that was recently found for magnetically active eclipsing systems. The radii of the early K dwarfs are reproduced well for a mixing length parameter that approaches the solar value, as qualitatively expected.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

2 since deposited on 05 Apr 2022
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item